Opening a PPM File

The PPM file type is primarily associated with Photoshop.

PPM	File extension: PPM
	File type:	image

What is a PPM file?

PPM files mostly belong to Photoshop by Adobe. PPM is the filename extension of uncompressed color image files saved in Portable Pixmap format. The PPM image format supports 0 to 255 RGB color and the file can be written in text or binary format. A PPM file begins with a magic number followed by the dimensions, and the color matrix made up of RGB (red, green, blue) triplets. PPM files use image/x-portable-pixmap Internet media type. Because these files are uncompressed, they typically require larger storage space and bandwidth when transmitted over the Internet. Due to the large file size, PPM is often used as an intermediate image processing format. PPM is also the filename of an archive of plugins used by Total Commander, a Windows-based file manager. Insight, a molecular data collection, analysis, and visualization software, saves proton chemical shifts data in PPM files.

How to open PPM files

You need a suitable software like Photoshop to open a PPM file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PPM file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PPM file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online PPM File Viewer

Choose your .ppm file to view this image

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

Easily convert PPM files to JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, ...

You can convert PPM files using our online PPM file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

Just click the "Choose your .ppm file to view this image" button on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the image format (e.g. JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert PPM files:

Photoshop by Adobe
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. PPM files are often referred to as Photoshop raster images because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Desktop Central (service pack) by ManageEngine
Desktop Central is a unified endpoint management software for managing desktops, servers, and mobile devices from a single location. With this tool, you can automate patch installation and management, software deployment, endpoint security etc. Service packs that are used by Desktop Central are stored in PPM files. This file format is classified as System. Related links: Installing Service Pack
GIMP (image) by The GIMP Team
GIMP is an open source graphics editor widely used for vector and raster graphics design. GIMP mainly serves as a photo editing program and it supports various file formats including PPM, PGM, JPG, and PNG. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
GRASS GIS (image) by GRASS Development Team
GRASS GIS (short for Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) is a geospatial data processing, modeling, and visualization software. Its r.out.ppm command line utility converts raster maps to images saved in PPM format. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Insight (proton chemical shifts) by Dassault
Insight is a molecular modeling environment that provides tools for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing molecular data. It is also used for molecular dynamics, homology modeling, de novo design, and electrostatics. Proton chemical shifts data files saved by Insight have PPM filename extension. This file format is classified as Data.
Total Commander (plugin archive) by Ghisler
Total Commander is a file manager and archive software for Windows operating system. It may be used for operations such as file comparison, directory synchronization, advanced file search, and archive decompression/unpacking. The PPM file in Total Commander is a PPMd based archive that contains plugins. This file format is classified as Compressed.
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is a cross-platform image management software with photo manipulation and conversion tools. It supports over 500 image formats including PPM, TIFF, and JPG. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

PPM file format:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Frequently, however, one file extension is used by different programs for different file formats, and one file format for different file extensions. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. Below you will find our evaluation of the PPM files:

The PPM file extension is very common and includes various formats for various programs. But the following two file formats are common:

65% of all PPM files are Portable PixMap bitmap files. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. PPM files are between 8 KB and 4 MB in size. The file type was created 10 years ago, but is still used today. Such files are related to image, output, mandelbrot, frame, input, problem, startup, sample and body.
10% of all PPM files store the data in the PNG file format. PNG is short for Portable Network Graphics. It is a high-quality raster image file that supports lossless data compression. They consist of unreadable binary data. The files are 15 KB to 160 KB in size, with a median of 63 KB. The following keywords are characteristic: IHDR, gAMA, sRGB and PLTE. Such PPM files store data about diagram, model, schematic, figura, process, matrix, source, system, basic and data.

All other PPM files (25%) have different formats, the following 8 formats exist: Nintendo DSi Flipnote Studio Animation, UTF-16 (LE) and ZIP. The category is engine, manage, diagram, model, figura, schematic or plus. You can get all the details of your PPM file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .ppm file to view this image" above.

Technical Data for PPM File Extension

File classification:

Raster Image

Related files:

raw_ppm, pnm, pgm, pmm, ppn, pbm, ppma, ppmx, zip, png, flc, mpp, pmn, txt, jpg, scene, pmp, bmp, ppl, ppb, tif, dcm, tiff

Related links:

Netpbm, IrfanView

Mime type:

image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-portable-anymap

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: ACDSee.ppm, FileType: ACDSee PPM Image, AppName: ACDSee

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM, FileType: ACDSee PPM Image, AppName: ACDSee for Windows 95/98/2000/NT

ProgramID: ACDSee6.ppm, FileType: ACDSee6 PPM Image, AppName: ACDSee 6.0 Application
EXEFile: ACDSee6.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee6.ppm, FileType: ACDSee6 PPM Image, AppName: ACDSee Application

ProgramID: EZPixFile, FileType: EZ-Pix Image, AppName: ezpix

ProgramID: EZPixFile, FileType: EZ-Pix Image, AppName: Image Viewing Software

ProgramID: FotoCanvas2.PPM, FileType: FotoCanvas PPM Image, AppName: FotoCanvas2
EXEFile: FotoCanvas2.exe

ProgramID: GraphicsConverterPro.ppm, FileType: Portable Pixmap, AppName: GraphicsConverter-reg
EXEFile: GraphicsConverter.exe

ProgramID: ICPlus, AppName: ImageEditor Plus
EXEFile: ICPlus.exe

ProgramID: IrfanView.ppm, FileType: IrfanView PPM File, AppName: IrfanView
EXEFile: i_view32.exe

ProgramID: LViewPro.Image, FileType: LView Pro Image, AppName: ABC Image Browser 4
EXEFile: IBrowser4.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PEX7.Image, AppName: Ulead Photo Explorer
EXEFile: PEX.EXE

ProgramID: PSP.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro Windows 32 bit Executable

ProgramID: PSP5.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 5 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 5 Release Executable
EXEFile: PSP.EXE

ProgramID: PSP7.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 7 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 7
EXEFile: psp.exe

ProgramID: PV1.Image, AppName: Ulead Instant Viewer

ProgramID: SlowView PPM, AppName: SlowView
EXEFile: SlowView.exe

ProgramID: TxView.1, FileType: Texture File

ProgramID: ACDSee 6.0.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\6.0\ACDSee6.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\5.0\ACDSee5.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACDSYS~1\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\HEWLET~1\PHOTOS~1\ACDSys\ACD\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee6.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\6.0\ACDSee6.exe %1

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: D:\Maya5.0\bin\fcheck.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro
EXEFile: C:\PSP\PSP.EXE %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 8\Paint Shop Pro.exe /dde

ProgramID: PEX7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 7.0\Pex.exe %1

ProgramID: PPM_UV
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Advanced Image Viewer and Converter\ImgViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PSP.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\PSP.EXE /dde

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\Psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: F:\PAINT~14\Psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 7\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Paint Shop Pro 7\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PV1.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 7.0\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0

ProgramID: TheGIMP20
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GIMP-2.2\bin\gimp-win-remote.exe %1

ProgramID: XnView.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\XnView\xnview.exe %1

ProgramID: ZipZag.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipZag\zipzag.exe %1

ProgramID: CPCView.PbmDoc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe %1

ProgramID: FotoCanvas2.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\FotoCanvas\2.0\FotoCanvas2.exe /dde

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Alias\Maya6.0\bin\fcheck.exe %1

ProgramID: SmartPixImage
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smart Pix Manager\SmartPix.exe %1

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro9.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Paint Shop Pro 9.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.ppm
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\Program Files\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe %1

ProgramID: PSP6.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACDSYS~1\ACDSEE~1\ACDSEE.EXE /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee 8.0.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\8.0\ACDSee8.exe %1

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Maya5.0\bin\fcheck.exe %1

ProgramID: TheGIMP20
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GIMP-2.0\bin\gimp-win-remote.exe gimp-2.2.exe %1

ProgramID: LViewPro
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\LVIEWP~1\LVIEWPRO.EXE %1

ProgramID: Visual Photo++ file
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Visual Photo++\VPhoto.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopProX.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro X\Paint Shop Pro X.exe

ProgramID: LViewPro.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\LVIEWP~1\LViewPro.exe

ProgramID: IrfanView.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IrfanView\i_view32.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee Pro.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\8.0.Pro\ACDSee8Pro.exe

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Alias\Maya6.5\bin\fcheck.exe

ProgramID: PowerPoint.Addin.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office10\POWERPNT.EXE

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Alias\Maya7.0\bin\fcheck.exe

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.6\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: PEX85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE Basic\PEX.exe

ProgramID: SnapfireI.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Snapfire Plus\Corel Snapfire.exe

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Alias\Maya8.0\bin\fcheck.exe

ProgramID: IrfanView.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IRFANV~1\i_view32.exe

ProgramID: Pagis.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ScanSoft\Pagis\XIFVIEW.EXE

ProgramID: ALSee.PPM
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ESTsoft\ALSee\ALSee.exe

ProgramID: CPCView.PbmDoc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE

ProgramID: Pagis.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Xerox\Pagis\XIFVIEW.EXE

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ahead\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files7.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero 7\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: MayaPPMFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\AliasWavefront\Maya4.5\bin\fcheck.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files7.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero8\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: DigitalFotoMaker.5.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MAGIX\FOTO_M~1\FOTOMA~1.EXE

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files8.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero8\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: PhEdit.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\VCW VicMan's Photo Editor\vcwphoto.exe

ProgramID: MyViewPad.ppm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\My ViewPad\MyViewPad.exe

Show all 82 listings To Top

a ppm image is a special file format by Adobe and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with PPM files

Associate the PPM file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open images. Because only the current version supports the latest PPM file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Adobe manufacturer website after an available Photoshop update.
To make sure that your PPM file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .PPM file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.